EVERYTHING

40

"Hi Babe!"

I heard her pagpasok ko ng pinto. Nanlalambot akong naglakad palapit kay Sarah na nakaupo sa isang lounge chair malapit sa pool. She's holding the book she's currently reading. I dropped my duffle bag on the floor. After that tune-up game, pagsakay ko ng sasakyan ko, naramdaman ko na ang sobrang pagod. I regret calling Jalal. Akala ko, since malapit lang yung venue ng game namin, its easy to drive— hindi pala.Kung kahapon, sobrang sakit ng katawan ko, mas lalo ngayon.

Tumayo siya bigla nang makitang hirap na hirap akong maglakad. Sinalubong niya ako saka inalalayang makaupo sa couch na malapit sakin. Halos sabay kaming bumagsak sa couch.

"Shit! Sorry, Babe. I can't barely move."

"Babe, ano bang nangyari? Nasaktan ka ba sa game?"

I tilt my head up saka pumikit.

"Nakakahiya, Babe— Coach gave me more playing time kanina but I only contribute 2 freakin' points all throughout our game."

"Babe— Syempre, nasa adjustment stage ka pa lang. Kapag nakuha mo na rythm mo, I'm sure magiging okay ka na."

I sigh.

"Ewan ko, Babe. Nahiya ako bigla. Alam mo yung feeling na, I want to do my best. I wanted to impress them but I failed? Pakiramdam ko, nanlambot ako kanina sa game. I'm sure hindi naman dahil sa kinakabahan ako. I don't know what happened to me."

I waited for her to say something but she didn't. I open my eyes saka tumingin sa kanya. And there, I saw her na nagpipigil ng tawa at umiiling.

"Well— It is now proven and tested, Babe—"

"What do you mean—", I asked her still confused of what she's saying.

"HAHAHA. I told you let's not DO IT the night before your game. Sabi mo, theories lang at hindi totoo. Well— Look at you now."

Napaupo ako nang tuwid nang makuha ang ibig niyang sabihin. Napahawak ako sa may bandang tagiliran when I felt the pain nang gumalaw ako.

Clearly, she's talking about what we did last night on the guest room. Kung paano kami ingat na ingat na hindi gumawa ng ingay so Ate Anna won't hear us from the other room.

"Hindi nga kasi yun totoo. Ako yung problema— not US making love last night."

"HAHAHA. Whatever you say, Babe. Para sakin, totoo yun." she stood up saka kinuha ang librong kanina pa niya binabasa. "What do you want for lunch?"

"You'll cook for me?"

"No! We'll order."

Sarah took out the steak from a nice take out box of a well-known steak house in the Metro. She knows kung gaano na ako kadalas nagke-crave sa steak and she really knows how to make me happy.

"Eat.", she said after placing the steak infront of me. "We should hire Kuya Mon for good. Pwede mo siguro siyang isama whenever you have games and practice for your pre and post game massages."

"I think that's a good idea, Babe. Though we have already have someone for our team."

"You have his contact details already. Call him anytime."

She took one cherry tomato saka isinubo yun.

"Hmm. I think the steak is good, Babe. Kumain ka na."